Mark Bluman has likely found his new favorite show jumping venue after a stunning debut at Spruce Meadows. The 35-year-old Colombian rider made an unforgettable first impression at the National tournament, posting a one-two finish on Friday and capturing the prestigious RBC grand prix on Saturday.
A Remarkable Debut
Bluman, who had never competed at Spruce Meadows before, quickly became the talk of the event. His performances on Friday included a victory in the 1.50m RBC Capital Markets Cup aboard Inside My Heart and a second-place finish on Phelina de Septon, showcasing the strength of his stable.
“I’m not a huge grass rider myself, but this grass is unbelievable. Riding in (the International Ring) is just the best feeling ever,” Bluman said earlier in the week.
While Spruce Meadows fans are more familiar with his cousin Daniel, a frequent visitor, Mark Bluman has now carved his own place in the venue’s history.
Key Horse: Landon De Nyze
The 13-year-old chestnut gelding Landon De Nyze has emerged as a standout in Bluman’s collection. Initially partnered with world number one Kent Farrington, the horse won several five-star grand prix and a silver medal at the Pan American Games.
“My cousin Daniel bought him off Kent,” Bluman explained. “When he bought him, he actually said to me, ‘Mark, I’m going to give him a shot but I think at the end of the day you’re going to be the one riding the horse.’ He tried for about six, seven months and after that he said, ‘Mark, just take the reins and see how it goes.’ We clicked right away. When I jumped him at home I knew the partnership was going to be very good.”
Bluman added, “Recently, at the end of Florida, I had big support from Mario Deslauriers and their family. His owners (Aram Ampagoumian LLC) purchased the horse for me in order to keep him and develop my career. So I’m very thankful to all of them.”
Grand Prix Victory
In the grand prix jump-off, Bluman and Landon De Nyze needed to beat Belgian Jos Verlooy’s clean time of 49.02 seconds. As the final entry, they did so with ease, crossing the finish in 44.44 seconds. Ireland’s Daniel Coyle, who has also been enjoying a strong summer series, finished third with four faults on Farrel.
“The courses always treat me well, I’ve said it several times already,” noted Bluman. “I walked the class (Saturday) morning and I was feeling pretty confident about it, at least to jump a clear round. We always want all of us to do well; I’m not going to lie, when Daniel had a rail I was a little relieved. Jos put enough pressure on me that I knew I had to leave the jumps up.”
Rising in the Rankings
Bluman’s recent excellence has propelled him to 39th place in the FEI rider rankings. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Me coming from Colombia, which isn’t a very horse riding country, and when I first moved to America … being top 100 in the world actually seemed unachievable at the time. But the moment you start achieving goals, you start getting hungry for more. Now 39 is not enough for me; I want to keep going and see how far I can get. That’s our goal and we all want to get there.”
